WWII Military History of Canada
After the German invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939, Canada’s Parliament joined with France and the United Kingdom in declaring war, albeit 10 days later, on the 10th of September.
In the early stages of the war, Canadian volunteers found themselves in the Battle of Britain, but at this stage the largest involvement of Canadians was in the Royal Canadian Navy and the merchant ships, which were fighting a supply role across the Atlantic to help keep Britain in the war.
By 1942 the Canadian Infantry was playing an active role in Europe, including the Italian landing and campaign in 1943, from where the Fifth Canadian Armoured Division fought north through 1943 and 1944. By June 1944, the 3rd Canadian Division was thrown into action in the Normandy landings. The Canadians landed on one of the most viciously fought for beaches, Juno, and this costly and devastating action was to set the tone for the rest of their Normandy campaign, having to take on some of the Germans’ most ideologically motivated Waffen SS divisions. By August they were joined by the 2nd Canadian Infantry and 4th Armoured Division. Together these units formed the 1st Canadian Army.
After the liberation of France the Canadian 1st Army was heavily involved in the Battle of the Scheldt, overcoming fierce German resistance to free up the port of Antwerp.
The Canadian units in Italy joined their counterparts in Northern Europe early in 1945 and together they pushed across the Rhine and into the heart of Germany until the Capitulation of Germany in May 1945.
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